From Almaty, I flew to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's cosmopolitan capital. For many visitors, Tashkent is the stepping stone to the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. But Tashkent is a fascinating city in its own right and there's plenty to see and do during a three- or four-day stay.
Tea has long been at the heart of Kazakhstani culture and remains a symbol of hospitality and respect. I drank a lot of tea while there, but I was also excited to explore Almaty's specialty coffee scene. I sampled everything from single-origin pourovers to signature drinks featuring local ingredients. And even a camelccino!
When Central Asia featured on the latest series of Race Across the World, it was the push I needed to book a long-awaited two-week trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. My first stop was Almaty, Kazakhstan's fascinating former capital, where I spent five days.
When I was in Winchester, I didn't get the chance to visit Kavi Coffee, Dhan Tamang's latest specialty coffee venture. Luckily for me, the six-time UK Latte Art Champion has opened a second Kavi rather closer to home, in London's Borough neighbourhood.
After spending the summer exploring the best beaches near London, it was time for a more autumnal day trip. With its moated castle — the childhood home of Anne Boleyn — and beautiful grounds, set around a lake, Hever Castle & Gardens fit the bill perfectly. Better still, it's only an hour from London Bridge.
